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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again come under scrutiny after a leaked audio of PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf went viral. The audio comes after Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy post Pakistan’s dismal outing in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India in October-November.
The Men in Green skipper faced a lot of criticism after they managed to win in only four out of the nine league stage matches and thereafter were knocked out of the tournament after finishing fifth. While Babar Azam never spoke in detail about his decision, nor did any member of the PCB management make a statement, the PCB Chairman can be heard speaking on Babar’s captaincy saga in detail in a recently leaked audio clip.
In the 2-minute, 15-second-long video, Zaka Ashraf revealed the reason behind Babar Azam’s removal from captaincy. He said that the then-skipper had formed a group with eight players, and he was asked to continue as Test captain. When asked by the woman who can be heard in the audio questioning on captain supporting his friends as players like Shadab have no place in the team, the Chairman replied, "Pakistan cricket is deteriorating because of this."
Here is how the conversation went:
“He has controlled eight players of the national team; he has signed a contract with the players. He is such a smart guy that he has built a lot of relationships with the players’ families by going to players’ houses, and the players can’t move without him, Talha Osmani, I think,” said PCB Head.
He further went on to speak, “I had told Babar Azam that you should keep the Test captaincy; I am thinking of removing you from the white ball. He replied, ‘Well, I will discuss this at home, and then I will tell you the decision’. Babar Azam called Talha and consulted him, Talha advised him to leave everything.”
Zaka Ashraf further added that he had plan B ready with him. “When Babar left the captaincy, I said to the other man, ‘Chal bhai ab tu captain hai’.”
Things did not end here as the unknown woman questioned that whether Mohammad Rizwan wasn’t better in white ball. In reply, Ashraf once again gave a shocking response as he said that although he liked Rizwan, but he was also involved with Babar and Talha.
However, Babar Azam might have stepped down from captaincy across formats, Shan Masood currently leads in the longest format of the game while Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named the white ball skipper.
